The responses expose a partisan rift, with 70 percent of Republicans saying Central American children should not be treated as refugees compared with 62 percent of Democrats who believe they should. On whether the United States has an obligation to accept people fleeing violence or political persecution, 66 percent of Republicans say it does not and 57 percent of Democrats say it does…

Americans who are closely following news about the wave of unaccompanied children crossing the border illegally in South Texas are less receptive, with only four in ten saying they should qualify as refugees. Among those who say they aren’t paying as much attention, roughly half believe they should be treated as refugees…

Americans with children under 18 are evenly split on whether the children crossing the border should be treated as refugees, with 49 percent taking each side. Those without young children tilt against refugee status, 53 percent to 45 percent…

Among Hispanics, 66 percent say children crossing the border who claim they are fleeing gang violence should be treated as refugees. Slightly fewer, 54 percent, said they see a moral obligation to accept people fleeing violence or persecution.

I’m tempted to say that the topline numbers might sober up Democrats opposed to expedited deportations of illegal immigrant children, but it won’t. Their own base, including/especially Latinos, is solidly behind granting the kids refugee status. If you’re a congressional Dem trying to figure out whom to pander to, you’re better off passing your own party’s litmus test than equivocating in hopes of attracting skeptical centrists who might not care much about this issue either way.

I’ll give you three theories for why the AP and PRRI results are so different. Theory one: The PRRI question that drew 69 percent support asked people if they agreed that the kids should be treated as refugees and allowed to stay “if U.S. authorities determine it is NOT safe for them to return to their home country.” The AP question, by contrast, asks whether “children entering the U.S. illegally who say they are fleeing gang violence” should be allowed to stay as refugees. PRRI’s phrasing suggests an objective, authoritative finding by the government that the kids are in danger; AP’s phrasing emphasizes that they came here illegally and suggests merely taking the kids’ word that they’re in danger back home. Maybe that’s the difference. It could be that, if a neutral fact-finder affirms that they’re facing violence, support for refugee status skyrockets.

Theory two: PRRI didn’t provide a partisan breakdown of its sample so there’s no way to tell if they oversampled Dems or undersampled Republicans. (The partisan split in the AP poll was 40D/38R/8I.) Maybe, though, for whatever reason, the two polls have drastically different samples in terms of the number of people who are following the border crisis closely. The AP found that the more interested people are in this story, the more opposed they are to refugee status. Which makes sense: If all you know is that kids are coming across the border, without much of a sense of how many, how old they are, etc, you might reflexively be more lenient about taking them in. Could be that PRRI’s poll ended up with a larger group of low-information voters than the AP’s and that pushed support for asylum upward.

Theory three: Read the fine print for both polls and you’ll see that AP conducted an online survey whereas PRRI did phone interviews. In some polls that might not matter, but in this one it could: Respondents may be reluctant to tell a person on the other end of the phone that they want endangered kids deported for fear of being judged — but they’ll tell a computer program. That’s something to bear in mind going forward as more polls on this subject come out. Are the online-only polls showing stronger support for deportation than the phone-only polls are? If so, how is this issue likely to play out in the voting booth, where there’s no one around to judge you?

Dated 2010
“The cost of harboring illegal immigrants in the United States is a staggering $113 billion a year — an average of $1,117 for every “native-headed” household in America — according to a study conducted by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR)….”

“Federal law like Plyler v. Doe tie the Texas Education Agency’s (TEA) hands as Breitbart Texas reported. Texas public schools must accept the migrant minors. If Dallas ISD shelters these minors, those education services kick in immediately, according to Kenneth Wolfe, Deputy Director of Administration for Children and Families, a division of the US Department of Health and Human Services.

He told Breitbart Texas that even amidst the frenetic warehousing of these youth, they do receive education services, including English as a second language. It’s online. They include classroom education, mental and health services, case management, socialization and recreation, plus family reunification “that facilitates safe and timely release to family members or other sponsors” that can care for them. The ORR also conducts home studies if safety is an issue and funds follow up services for at-risk undocumented minors after their release.

Texas feels the effects, already. Breitbart Texas reported on thousands of unaccompanied alien children that crossed into Hidalgo County, Texas. They received a “slew of benefits subsidized by the federal government” over a two week period that erupted in to an approximately $68,000 price tag — education was only one of them and the feds split the tab with the county.

Texas is right behind California.
In January, Breitbart News unveiled FAIR’s sobering report “The Fiscal Burden of Illegal Immigration on Texas” showing that Texans are “footing a massive financial bill,” approximately $8.5 billion for just K-12. Special needs assistance like English as a Second Language (ESL) also called English Language Learners (ELL) instruction drives up the bill for the “estimated 195,000 illegal alien students and 481,000 U.S.-born children of illegal aliens,” in the article.

The report broke down state public school costs to local taxes (51.6%), state revenue (41.1%), federal funds (2.2%) with the remainder coming from other sources all taxpayer driven.
FAIR also sourced PolitiFact Texas who “…folding in capital outlays, other education expenditures and interest on debt, total estimated spending in Texas of nearly $11,090 per pupil.” That translates to $10,900 per student cost to the Texas taxpayer when taking the federal funding share of 2.2% applied to instructional costs is removed from the taxpayer’s equation but those costs are there and they are federally tax dollar driven.

Also in the FAIR report was TEA data on actual expenditures and the “Bilingual Program” funding cost, averaging $1,083 per student. Thus, the estimated taxpayer costs of educating the children of illegal aliens unaccompanied or otherwise totaled up to about $7.4 billion per year. Throw in English as a Second Language and the bill jumps up to that $8.5 billion figure.

The Breitbart News exclusive also spotlighted that this amount of per student funding was compatible with independent data the Texas Comptroller’s Financial Allocation Study for Texas website compiled for the 2008-09 school year “identifying total per school expenditures as $11,567 per student.” The comptroller’s study, funding took into account 7.8% federal funds (APRA). Total state and local costs were cited as $10,667 per student.”

Previously, the Dallas Morning News went bare bones estimating 2008-09 per pupil costs at $8,572 with a ceiling estimate of $3.5 billion total educational costs based on Pew Hispanic Center data (2011)….”

Judge me all you want. Send the teenagers back on the first available rafts and make them find their own safety and the kids who cannot care for themselves who were brought by others either get sent back with the other adult(s) with them, or flown back and turned over to their home nation’s government for processing.
Any of the teenagers should be biometrically scanned and barred from ever obtaining a future visa into this nation. Any adults get the same. Any children 12 and under can apply for and obtain a visa as an adult in the future.

Here’s an article about how so-called “non-profits” are enjoying revenue streams of tens/hundreds of millions and their executives are pocketing hundreds of thousands in compensation through the “unaccompanied (illegal) children’s shelter industry.”

Clearly they’re refugees and should be given humanitarian aid as soon as they cross the border from Honduras into a safe country.

The only odd thing about this is, I’m not clear where the US-Honduras border IS precisely.

When did we get a border with Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala?

I’ve even checked maps and I can’t find that border ANYWHERE.

gekkobear on July 30, 2014 at 11:41 AM

“July 9, 2014
On Monday, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto and Guatemalan president Otto Perez Molina held a joint press conference in Playas de Catazaja, Mexico, to officially announce an agreement to make it easier for those making the illegal journey to the United States from Central America, to cross into Mexico.

The Southern Border Program to Improve Passage, will provide for more border checkpoints along Mexico’s border with Guatemala, and offer more protection and even emergency medical care to those making their way north. The illegal aliens will receive a so-called Regional Visitor’s Card, according to El Universal.

Of course, these efforts, chiefly by the Mexican government, will only increase the number of illegal aliens coming to this country by the thousands, now on a daily basis.

The official announcement only confirms what many of us have known all along…the current chaos on the border which the Obama administration has sympathetically (and dishonestly) characterized as a “humanitarian crisis,” only exists due to collusion between the governments of Mexico, Guatemala and likely the United States….”

“Apparently Mexico isn’t particularly thrilled with Governor Perry’s moves to secure the border though, as they have released a statement highly critical of the Governor’s plan to deploy the National Guard to the border region, according to Western Journalism.

Some members of the Mexican government have been publicly ridiculing Perry, saying his proposal for securing the border shows just how uncaring he is to the illegal immigrants crossing over from Mexico.

“Attention to the immigration phenomenon must be paid from a long-term regional perspective and based on the principles of good neighborliness and shared responsibility,” read a statement from the Mexican Foreign Relations Secretariat.

The statement went on to declare that the US should keep in mind the “necessary shared responsibility among the countries of origin, transit and destination of migration flows.” The statement continued by bashing the US for supposed mistreatment of illegal immigrants, ignoring the vast amounts of taxpayer funding that is going towards caring for them, or the fact that the most danger these illegals faced was during their journey through Mexico under the “care” of cartel criminals and corrupt government officials….”

I support theory one because that PRRI asked such a loaded question that only could produce a positive outcome. Theory three sounds just as plausible as everyone online is fueled with internet testosterone and bravado.

Theory two doesn’t really matter because I believe that there are quite a number of Dems who don’t want the illegal alien minors brought here as well. As VDH is wont to say: Immigration isn’t a Left/Right issue, it’s an Up-Down issue.

This is where all these students with useless majors go hide and make some kind of living. If a non-profit organization can convince some idiot individual or corporation to fund it, fine. But this is a tactic that the GOP doesn’t fight at all. And we wonder why we have a proliferation of progressive-cockroach organizations in the US undermining the country. George Soros may be funding some of them, but taxpayers are doing so as well.

Theory Four: The opinions on this matter are so unevenly distributed nationally that while polling of 1,000-1,500 people would typically be a suitable national sampling, this issue seems to have clusters both nationally and within states so not only is the distribution of the sampling extremely important, but the sample size required needs to be larger to obtain valid and reliable data within areas. So, in these two polls, just the distribution of sampling chosen, partisan breakdown aside, could make a massive difference.

Send Guatemala and Mexico the bill for the cost processing these illegals. More than likely Obama’s gang are paying these countries to do this.

crankyoldlady on July 30, 2014 at 11:53 AM

Cut foreign aid to all of the southern hemisphere.

Can’t get to the US by using the southern land route unless you cross Guatemala then Mexico…which announced an agreement to facilitate dumping the southern hemisphere’s “best and brightest” into the US.

When Obamacare was being debated, the American people were overwhelmingly opposed to it, Congress passed it anyway.Congress doesn’t give a rats ass what the American people want. These polls do not exist to0 show what America thinks, but to tell Americans what they are suppose to think.

The House Rules Committee discusses a resolution to initiate a suit against President Obama for use of executive action to delay the employer mandate in the health care law overhaul. Legal experts focused on the House’s standing in such a case.

Who cares what the polls say, the fact is the average American voter doesn`t know his own rear end from a hole in the ground.
We are always blaming politicians for all our problems, who in the heck voted those hacks in power in the first place, its the moron voters. Sorry I mean low information voter.
Give it up guys there is no hope, you can stick a fork in US we`re done.

Who cares what the polls say, the fact is the average American voter doesn`t know his own rear end from a hole in the ground.
We are always blaming politicians for all our problems, who in the heck voted those hacks in power in the first place, its the moron voters. Sorry I mean low information voter.
Give it up guys there is no hope, you can stick a fork in US we`re done.

Rook on July 30, 2014 at 12:06 PM

I agree that these people were voted in by morons.

But the pols all swore to uphold the constitution. For that we can and should hold them accountable.

Here’s an article about how so-called “non-profits” are enjoying revenue streams of tens/hundreds of millions and their executives are pocketing hundreds of thousands in compensation through the “unaccompanied (illegal) children’s shelter industry.”

A Texas Media outlet has just caught on to something we discovered and have shared with you. Previously we identified the BIG THREE large non-profit corporations getting massive grants from DHS and HHS. These were the “faith based groups” President Obama met in Dallas 7/9/14.

Today we focus on one. “Southwest Key Programs Inc” – KEYE TV in Austin Texas has just discovered the ruse and the tentacles of how these “private corporations”, ie. “non profit groups”, think ACORN, actually tie to their community and hide under the cover of funding from DHS/HHS Grants. We found this specific Private Company nets 98.76% of earnings from government grants [2012 IRS form 990 pg 14].

KEYE TV – TEXAS – More than $100 million of federal grant money this year has gone to an Austin based company that runs unaccompanied minor shelters across the country.

Its website says Southwest Key Programs is the largest provider of services to unaccompanied children in the United States. Their headquarters is in Austin, Texas.

A brief online description details the children they help, how they’re accepted and a short write up of the types of services provided.

A map provided by Southwest Key officials outlines their different locations and programs across the county. But if you have questions about the money it receives from the federal government for unaccompanied children officials with the non-profit aren’t talking.

While their corporate address is listed as right here in Austin when you try to ask about their child immigrant shelters you get directed to a federal agency — the Office of Refugee Resettlement, which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

But they’re not talking either.

In an email back to KEYE TV, government officials say they do not identify regular/permanent unaccompanied alien children program shelters for the safety and security of minors and staff at the facilities.

They did acknowledge more than $120 million in grant money had been awarded to the Austin based non-profit far this fiscal year.

As part of our ongoing Treehouse research – We’ve been looking into this organization for over a week.

They are led by Dr. Juan Sanchez, President and CEO – 2012 salary $338,770

With a total company payroll around $65,000,000 on 2012 taxpayer revenue of $85,000,000 (98.76% taxpayer funded)

“Dr. Sanchez is proud to have built one of the most diverse nonprofits in the country, where 93 percent of Southwest Key’s 2,000 employees, including most top managers and board members, are people of color“.

We have much more on Southwest Key. Here are their 2014 HHS Grants for “Unaccompanied Alien Children” $122,285,100:

Southwest Key Inc. Annual Report and Financials HERE If you dig in to the IRS 990 forms (embedded above) you’ll see a lot of, well, “generous” wage and benefit perks. Golf, florists, cafe’s, third party mortgages, $$$ Spouses on the payroll, etc. But, it’s for the *children* right? I digress.

Previously:

Using information within the TAGGS system for Health and Human Services we are able to identify the recipients for Grants specifically designated for “Unaccompanied Alien Children”, or UAC’s.

With that data, a few more search tools, some time and a little more research, we are able to identify the locations of facilities throughout the country where the HHS grants are being directed and the UAC’s are being transferred/housed. There are essentially two broad types: Residence Care, and Transitional to Foster Care Services.

~ The Three Corp Entities Below Are Receiving Grants and Using Sub Contractors ~

[BCFS-EMD is the single largest facilitator of UAC transition throughout the U.S. – specific housing locales unknown] However, we do know as a result of the $190 million grant BCFS received just before the 7/9/14 Dallas meeting with President Obama they plan massive expansion. (Press Release )…”

Meh, it’s all in the way the question’s posed. Ask it one way you get this result, ask it another, you get the result posted yesterday. I get the sense people are up in arms about this but the polls are all over the place. Maybe we’ll find out the truth in November.

How do you separate those fleeing violence from those who are part of gangs and seeking to promote it?

And as these children arrive without their parents, just why are they not repatriated to their parents who should be looking after them? If the ‘gang violence’ is that bad, then why aren’t entire families on the run? And if they were on the run, wouldn’t that call for some outreach to the government of their Nation of origin to help cut down on gangs, especially the international sort that are a threat to every society?

Where is THAT piece of the foreign policy puzzle that should immediately dovetail with any ‘gang violence’ problems destabilizing our border? Oh, wait… there ISN’T one and our DoJ and State Dept. sends weapons TO THE GANGS instead.

What a racket they got going there. They want to ‘save the children’ that they endanger by their policies.

Charlotte, NC, US
8m
Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, NC, says a person came to ER Tuesday after visiting country known for high risk of infectious diseases; all appropriate infection control measures taken to protect patients, staff, and visitors, hospital says – @wcnc

Alternative theory. The numbers are affected by the status of the individual. Taxpayers more likely to react negatively to the invaders than parasites and others who are not expected to fund this invasion. It is one thing to be “compassionate” when one isn’t footing the bill. It is another thing entirely if your tax dollars end up going to house and support the illegals instead of helping fund community services intended for legitimate citizens.

Today starts the 126th year of Carey’s Camp near Millsboro, DE; a week and a half of old-time gospel music and ear-pounding. A really big gospel music name they have every year is the Dixie Melody Boys

They will be having some fairly big name, so attendance will be heavy, and people will be coming from all over especially since it is all free.

I don’t much care for country gospel, but my wife is on the camp committee and is the booking agent.

This area is also a big tourist destination with the beaches.

I am concerned about the disease situation. We are close to New Jersey. And they’ve shipped over a hundred illegals here recently.

Charlotte, NC, US
8m
Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, NC, says a person came to ER Tuesday after visiting country known for high risk of infectious diseases; all appropriate infection control measures taken to protect patients, staff, and visitors, hospital says – @wcnc

canopfor on July 30, 2014 at 12:30 PM

I am sure (hope) they ran all the necessary tests. But that person just happened to go to the e-room. What about the people wandering around who haven’t a clue?

How do you separate those fleeing violence from those who are part of gangs and seeking to promote it?

And as these children arrive without their parents, just why are they not repatriated to their parents who should be looking after them? If the ‘gang violence’ is that bad, then why aren’t entire families on the run? And if they were on the run, wouldn’t that call for some outreach to the government of their Nation of origin to help cut down on gangs, especially the international sort that are a threat to every society?

Where is THAT piece of the foreign policy puzzle that should immediately dovetail with any ‘gang violence’ problems destabilizing our border? Oh, wait… there ISN’T one and our DoJ and State Dept. sends weapons TO THE GANGS instead.

What a racket they got going there. They want to ‘save the children’ that they endanger by their policies.

What truly evil people they are who perpetrate this on our Nation.

ajacksonian on July 30, 2014 at 12:30 PM

Border Patrol Agents along the Texas border say that most of the unaccompanied illegal minors separate from the parents right before they signal to the agents to be picked up on this side of the border…the parents head on into a pre-arranged meeting place knowing they’ll be re-united as distant relatives pickup the kids who don’t show up to the later hearings.

It’s a giant scam to load the polls and the union rolls.

Try winning an election without California,Texas and Florida (States getting the most of the illegals)

They did acknowledge more than $120 million in grant money had been awarded to the Austin based non-profit far this fiscal year.

As part of our ongoing Treehouse research – We’ve been looking into this organization for over a week.

They are led by Dr. Juan Sanchez, President and CEO – 2012 salary $338,770

With a total company payroll around $65,000,000 on 2012 taxpayer revenue of $85,000,000 (98.76% taxpayer funded)

“Dr. Sanchez is proud to have built one of the most diverse nonprofits in the country, where 93 percent of Southwest Key’s 2,000 employees, including most top managers and board members, are people of color“.

workingclass artist on July 30, 2014 at 12:16 PM

Texas Governor Rick Perry should order an immediate audit of Austin based Southwest Key to confirm that all of Southwest Key’s employees are either American Citizens or Legal Residents.

It really shouldn’t be too hard to check the Social Security Numbers of all of Southwest Key’s employees to make sure they are valid.

… “Dr. Sanchez is proud to have built one of the most diverse nonprofits in the country, where 93 percent of Southwest Key’s 2,000 employees, including most top managers and board members, are people of color“.

workingclass artist on July 30, 2014 at 12:16 PM

Texas Governor Rick Perry should order an immediate audit of Austin based Southwest Key to confirm that all of Southwest Key’s employees are either American Citizens or Legal Residents.

It really shouldn’t be too hard to check the Social Security Numbers of all of Southwest Key’s employees to make sure they are valid.

wren on July 30, 2014 at 5:03 PM

I don’t call “93% of employees persons of color” diverse, it looks to me like they are discriminating against white people.